The little girl hadn’t spoken since the night her mother was found on the kitchen floor! Then the court dog lowered his head-and she whispered one sentence toward the defense table…

she woke in the night.

Denise cried while packing Lily’s clothes, though she tried to do it in the laundry room where the child would not see.

Lily saw.

“Are you sad?” she asked.

Denise folded a tiny sweater with great concentration. “A little.”

“Because I go?”

“Because I’ll miss you.” Denise sat on the floor beside the suitcase, giving up on hiding it. continue reading …